Cutter chain



Patented July 17, 1934 UNITE STATES CUTTER CHAIN Louis F. Gerdetz, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application August 3, 1933, Serial No. 683,524

7 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in cutter chains similar to that included in my application on Cutter chains, Ser. No. 616,991, filed June 13, 1932.

My present invention is directed to the provision of a double cutter for a cutter chain, which has cutting teeth arranged at opposite ends thereof, and is mounted on a cable or other support, so as to be capable of tilting movement thereon, during rectilinear movement of the cutter chain. To provide for such tilting movement, I taper the bore of the cutter with a double taper which has a constricted portion intermediate the opposite ends of the bore so that the cutter will tilt in each opposite direction of movement of the cutter chain, and dig into the kerf to efiect a better and more positive cutting action.

In the accompanying drawing,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a cutter chain embodying my present improvement, with a portion of the cutter chain broken away;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through a double cutter embodying my invention; and

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of a mine showing the manner of using my flexible cutter chain therein.

My flexible cutter chain is shown as having a flexible cable 1, which may be of the nature of a wire rope, as shown, or a chain or other flexible elements, herein termed a cable. The opposite ends of this cable 1, are secured, preferably detachably, to sockets 2. The cutters are designated generally by the numeral 3, and

are strung on the cable 1, loosely so as to be freely rotatable thereon, and are held in spaced relation by spacing rings 4, all as set forth generally in my above-mentioned application, Serial No. 616,991.

Each of the cutters 3 has a hub portion 5. provided with peripheral teeth 6, spaced circumferentially around opposite ends of said hub portion 5, in order to cut a kerf in the coal or other material, as the cutter chain is moved lengthwise relative thereto. The cutter 3 is provided with a longitudinal bore '7 therethrough, which has a double taper as shown in Fig. 2, with a constricted portion designated 8, approximately midway between the opposite ends of the bore, so that each end portion of the bore is flared toward the ends of the cutter.

The cable 1 passes loosely through the bore 7, and should be of a size to loosely fit the constructed portion 8, but not tightly, so as to permit turning movement of the cutter on the cable and at the same time as the cutter chain is moved longitudinally, the cutter tilts on the cable in each opposite direction of movement of the cutter chain. This enables the teeth 6 to dig in and cut a kerf in the coal or other ma- ,60 terial as the cutters are moved by the cable. The double flare oi the bore 7 enables the cutter to tilt in both opposite directions of movement.

I have shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, a diagrammatic plan View of a portion of a coal .65 mine, illustrating the manner of using my cutter chain. Themine has the usual pillars 10 formed by cutting breasts or other openings into the seam or" coal.

Cables 11 are placed along the sides of the pillars 10 extending over sheaves 12 to a reciproeating engine or hoist 13, of well-known construction, which Work the cables back and forth and at the same time takes up slack. The opposite ends oi the cables 11, are connected with the .75 sockets 2, so that the hoist 13 acts through the cables 11 to reciprocate the cable 1 of the cutter chain and moves the cutters longitudinally to cause them to cut a kerf in the coal during rectilienar movement of the cutter chain. .80

The adjacent ends of the teeth may extend to the center of the double cutter, if desired, so that the hub portion will have the teeth extending throughout the length of the cutter.

I claim:

1. Cutting apparatus comprising a supporting element, and a series of double cutters sleeved on said supporting element and being tiltable thereon.

2. Cutting apparatus comprising a flexible-.90 device, and a series of double cutters sleeved on" said flexible element and having cutting edges turned in opposite directions for cutting action alternately upon rectilinear movement of the flexible device, said cutters being tiltable on the flexible device.

3. Cutting apparatus comprising a flexible device, and a series of double cutters sleeved on said flexible element and having cutting edges turned in opposite directions for cutting actionlOO alternately upon rectilinear movement of the flexible device, said cutters being tiltable on the flexible device, and power means connected with opposite ends of the flexible device causing rectilinear movement of the flexible device in opposite directions.

4.. A cutter chain comprising a flexible device, and a series of double cutters strung loosely on said flexible device and having cutting edges turned in opposite directions, each of said double:

6. A double cutter having cutting edges at opposite end portions thereof and having a bore to receive a supporting element, said bore having a constricted portion intermediate the opposite ends thereof.

7. A double cutter comprising a hub portion having cutting teeth at opposite ends thereof, and having a bore to receive a cable, said bore having a double taper to a constricted portion approximately midway between the opposite ends thereof.

LOUIS F. GERDETZ. 

